Virginia Hosts Wofford in Final Nonconference Game

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Dec. 29, 2012

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia hosts Wofford on Sunday, Dec. 30 in its final nonconference regular-season game of the season. Tipoff at John Paul Jones Arena is slated for 1 p.m.

The game will be broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network and televised on Regional Sports Networks.

The Cavaliers (9-3) look to return to their winning ways after suffering a 63-61 loss to Old Dominion on Dec. 22 in the Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic. Virginia’s eight-game winning streak was snapped in the loss, which was also the Cavaliers third loss against a Colonial Athletic Association opponent this season.

Virginia ranks fourth in the nation in scoring defense at 51.7 points per game and has held nine opponents under 60 points this season. The Cavaliers are averaging 64 points per game and have topped the 60-point mark eight times.

Virginia meets Wofford for the second time in a series that dates back to 2002-03. The Cavaliers defeated the Terriers, 87-65, in the first meeting on Jan. 2, 2003.

Juniors Joe Harris (Chelan, Wash.) and Akil Mitchell (Charlotte, N.C.) continue to lead the Cavaliers in the absence of senior point guard Jontel Evans(Hampton, Va.), who will miss his ninth game with a foot injury.

Harris, who led Virginia with 18 points against Old Dominion, is tied for sixth in the ACC in scoring at 15 points per game. Harris also ranks fourth in the ACC in three-point field goal accuracy (44.8%) and made three-point field goals per game (2.2). Harris has led the Cavaliers in scoring eight times this season.

Mitchell is averaging career highs in scoring (13.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 rpg) and has five double-doubles. Mitchell ranks third in the ACC in rebounding and had a career-high 16 rebounds in Virginia’s win over Seattle on Nov. 17.

Sophomore Darion Atkins(Clinton, Md.) has added 8.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game.

Forward Evan Nolte(Milton, Ga.) tallied a season-high 15 points against Old Dominion and leads Virginia freshmen in scoring at 6.6 points per game.

Cavalier head coach Tony Bennettsports a 62-44 record, including a 41-17 nonconference mark, in four seasons at UVa. Bennett guided the Cavaliers to the 2012 NCAA Tournament as UVa finished 22-10.

Wofford is coming off an impressive 56-55 road win at Xavier on Dec. 22. Guard Karl Cochran scored 20 points in the win and leads the Terriers in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Forward Lee Skinner is averaging 11.2 points and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds per game, while guard Spencer Collins has added 10.8 ppg. Guard Indiana Faithfull leads the team with 38 assists.

The Terriers are averaging 61.5 points per game and allowing 58.2 ppg. Wofford (6-6) has also defeated Webber International (87-54), Hampton (56-51), Winthrop (70-55), Gardner-Webb (54-42) and Jacksonville (94-52) this season.

Head coach Mike Young has a 162-159 mark in 11 seasons at Wofford. In 2011, Young led the Terriers to a second-straight Southern Conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth.

Single-game tickets for Virginia’s game with Wofford are available and can be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com/tickets. Tickets may also be purchased on game day at the JPJA box office starting at 11:30 a.m.

The Cavaliers host North Carolina in their ACC opener on Sunday, Jan. 6. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.